Chemo #2 Day 21
Ma is having her third chemo tomorrow. One of the drugs can cause bladder problems, so she'll have to drink at least four 16 oz. bottles of water a day for several days to flush out the drug. She's been drinking only 2 bottles a day. I tried to make her drink three, but it seems the best she can manage is 2.5 bottles.
Showing posts with label Chemo #2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chemo #2. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Food, Food, and More Food
Chemo #2 Day 19
Ma felt well enough to go out to lunch, so we went to Andrea's in Vallejo. The restaurant is co-owned by my high school classmate Joji. Joji had visited Ma when she was still in the hospital and brought lots of food.
I was hoping to pay for our meal before Joji saw us, but no such luck. She let me pay for the dinuguan, puto, daing na bangus and rice, but she wouldn't let me pay for the double order of lechon. Then she brought over ampalaya, pinakbet (kalabasa), a plate of desserts (banana-Q, turon, kariyoka), and melon coolers. Ma ate a lot of food, but we still had lots of leftovers. She really liked the pinakbet, so Joji gave us more to go. She also wouldn't let me pay for the okoy that Ma wanted for later.
Afterwards we stopped at Seafood City for more food. Ma was able to walk a short distance inside the mall although she spent most of the time sitting while we shopped for goodies.
In the afternoon, friends stopped by to visit. They brought nectarines, giant peaches and corn. Another friend stopped by with paksiw na lechon and more corn. And then another friend stopped by with arroz caldo.
Ma was so full from her lunch that she didn't eat much dinner. If she keeps eating as much as she did today, maybe she can put on a couple of pounds by her next chemo on Wednesday.
Ma felt well enough to go out to lunch, so we went to Andrea's in Vallejo. The restaurant is co-owned by my high school classmate Joji. Joji had visited Ma when she was still in the hospital and brought lots of food.
I was hoping to pay for our meal before Joji saw us, but no such luck. She let me pay for the dinuguan, puto, daing na bangus and rice, but she wouldn't let me pay for the double order of lechon. Then she brought over ampalaya, pinakbet (kalabasa), a plate of desserts (banana-Q, turon, kariyoka), and melon coolers. Ma ate a lot of food, but we still had lots of leftovers. She really liked the pinakbet, so Joji gave us more to go. She also wouldn't let me pay for the okoy that Ma wanted for later.
Afterwards we stopped at Seafood City for more food. Ma was able to walk a short distance inside the mall although she spent most of the time sitting while we shopped for goodies.
In the afternoon, friends stopped by to visit. They brought nectarines, giant peaches and corn. Another friend stopped by with paksiw na lechon and more corn. And then another friend stopped by with arroz caldo.
Ma was so full from her lunch that she didn't eat much dinner. If she keeps eating as much as she did today, maybe she can put on a couple of pounds by her next chemo on Wednesday.
Friday, August 1, 2008
A Trip to Costco
Chemo #2 Day 17
Tita Belen, Tito Pepe, and Ate Vicky stopped by today, just in time for lunch. They brought dim sum and bangus. We also had pusit, bistig and monggo soup. Ate Vicky commented that Ma ate a lot. They stayed for about 2 hours.
Afterwards we went to the oncologist (Dr. Irwin) for Ma's follow-up appointment. Her triglycerides and uric acid levels are way too high. Pa will give her the appropriate medications. She must be taking about 20 pills a day now. Most of those she was already taking before she got cancer.
I asked Dr. Irwin if I can give Ma acidophilus for her diarrhea/soft stools. He said it was okay, so I got her a bottle of pills today. Acidophilus is the stuff you find in yogurt. It restores the good bacteria in your stomach.
After the appointment, we went to Costco to find a comfortable chair for Ma. We had borrowed Tita Belen's wheelchair. It worked quite well, and Ma found it comfortable. At Costco, Ma didn't like the recliner, but she liked the rocking chair. When Pa tried to pay for it, he discovered he didn't bring his checkbook. They wouldn't take my check. We didn't have enough cash. Neither one of us had a debit card, and they don't take credit cards. Fortunately we ran into a patient of Pa's, Rafael, and he kindly lent us $100. I wrote him a check to cover it. Whew! Pa will borrow a truck from friends and pick up the rocking chair tomorrow morning.
After we paid for our other purchases at Costco, we followed Rafael to his house because he had some peaches he wanted to give us. He has a big house in the hills of El Cerrito. His garden has lots of fruit trees. He also has a pet hen that lays lots of eggs. Yep, it was a free-range chicken. I even got to pet it without getting pecked. We went home with peaches and lemons from Rafael's trees and brown eggs from his chicken.
Tita Belen, Tito Pepe, and Ate Vicky stopped by today, just in time for lunch. They brought dim sum and bangus. We also had pusit, bistig and monggo soup. Ate Vicky commented that Ma ate a lot. They stayed for about 2 hours.
Afterwards we went to the oncologist (Dr. Irwin) for Ma's follow-up appointment. Her triglycerides and uric acid levels are way too high. Pa will give her the appropriate medications. She must be taking about 20 pills a day now. Most of those she was already taking before she got cancer.
I asked Dr. Irwin if I can give Ma acidophilus for her diarrhea/soft stools. He said it was okay, so I got her a bottle of pills today. Acidophilus is the stuff you find in yogurt. It restores the good bacteria in your stomach.
After the appointment, we went to Costco to find a comfortable chair for Ma. We had borrowed Tita Belen's wheelchair. It worked quite well, and Ma found it comfortable. At Costco, Ma didn't like the recliner, but she liked the rocking chair. When Pa tried to pay for it, he discovered he didn't bring his checkbook. They wouldn't take my check. We didn't have enough cash. Neither one of us had a debit card, and they don't take credit cards. Fortunately we ran into a patient of Pa's, Rafael, and he kindly lent us $100. I wrote him a check to cover it. Whew! Pa will borrow a truck from friends and pick up the rocking chair tomorrow morning.
After we paid for our other purchases at Costco, we followed Rafael to his house because he had some peaches he wanted to give us. He has a big house in the hills of El Cerrito. His garden has lots of fruit trees. He also has a pet hen that lays lots of eggs. Yep, it was a free-range chicken. I even got to pet it without getting pecked. We went home with peaches and lemons from Rafael's trees and brown eggs from his chicken.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Another Two Pounds Lost
Chemo #2 Day 16
Ma seems a lot better. Her appetite is good, and she's not sleeping all the time. She even watered her orchids today. However, she has lost more weight and is down to 111 lbs. Every time I try to have her eat or drink something with protein powder, she always has an excuse. She's the same way when I ask her to walk more often around the house even though it only takes her a couple of minutes.
Ma seems a lot better. Her appetite is good, and she's not sleeping all the time. She even watered her orchids today. However, she has lost more weight and is down to 111 lbs. Every time I try to have her eat or drink something with protein powder, she always has an excuse. She's the same way when I ask her to walk more often around the house even though it only takes her a couple of minutes.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Should I Get a Wheelchair?
Chemo #2 Day 14
Didn't visit Ma today, but she says she ate a lot of small meals, including a whole corn-on-a-cob. Her appetite is good. Her doctor prescribed Megace to help with her appetite, but she's taken it only once. That was two days ago. It helped, but she said it made her food taste mediciney (is that a word?).
I want to get Ma a comfortable chair for use at home -- either a recliner or a rocking chair. She wants to try it out first before purchasing, but we don't think she can manage the walk from the Costco entrance to the cashier area. So now I'm thinking of getting her a wheelchair. Medicare will provide a chair, but I understand it's heavy (40 lbs.). I want to get a lightweight chair. This one has good reviews and is only 15 lbs.
I've added a poll to the right. Please vote. Can you recommend a wheelchair? Should I even get one?
Didn't visit Ma today, but she says she ate a lot of small meals, including a whole corn-on-a-cob. Her appetite is good. Her doctor prescribed Megace to help with her appetite, but she's taken it only once. That was two days ago. It helped, but she said it made her food taste mediciney (is that a word?).
I want to get Ma a comfortable chair for use at home -- either a recliner or a rocking chair. She wants to try it out first before purchasing, but we don't think she can manage the walk from the Costco entrance to the cashier area. So now I'm thinking of getting her a wheelchair. Medicare will provide a chair, but I understand it's heavy (40 lbs.). I want to get a lightweight chair. This one has good reviews and is only 15 lbs.
I've added a poll to the right. Please vote. Can you recommend a wheelchair? Should I even get one?
Monday, July 28, 2008
More Alert
Chemo #2 Day 13
Ma seemed so much better today. I think it's simply because she didn't take Darvocet and therefore wasn't sleeping all the time. The catheter in her chest still gives her occasional pain. I told her to try Tylenol next time it hurts so that she's not so drowsy during the day. That'll also take away her excuse for not walking around the house more often.
Ma seemed so much better today. I think it's simply because she didn't take Darvocet and therefore wasn't sleeping all the time. The catheter in her chest still gives her occasional pain. I told her to try Tylenol next time it hurts so that she's not so drowsy during the day. That'll also take away her excuse for not walking around the house more often.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Massage
Chemo #2 Day 12
Yeah, I know. I skipped a day.
We've switched Ma to eating several small meals a day. Her stomach seems to be handling it better. Her diarrhea is still bad though. I'm not sure if Ensure makes it worse. At the hospital, drinking Ensure guaranteed an immediate trip to the bathroom.
Ma's friend and hairdresser Auring came over. She did Ma's nails and massaged her legs and feet. Then she massaged her head. Ma really liked that part. Auring said she'll come over every other day to give Ma a massage. They also spent a lot of time chatting. Ma seemed to enjoy her visit. Auring is so nice. She's the one who brought lots of home-cooked food to the hospital including some fried bangus for me because I said I liked it.
Yeah, I know. I skipped a day.
We've switched Ma to eating several small meals a day. Her stomach seems to be handling it better. Her diarrhea is still bad though. I'm not sure if Ensure makes it worse. At the hospital, drinking Ensure guaranteed an immediate trip to the bathroom.
Ma's friend and hairdresser Auring came over. She did Ma's nails and massaged her legs and feet. Then she massaged her head. Ma really liked that part. Auring said she'll come over every other day to give Ma a massage. They also spent a lot of time chatting. Ma seemed to enjoy her visit. Auring is so nice. She's the one who brought lots of home-cooked food to the hospital including some fried bangus for me because I said I liked it.
Friday, July 25, 2008
More Drugs
Chemo #2 Day 10
Ma had a follow-up appointment today with her oncologist Dr. Irwin. I told him about the side effects she was having, and we went home with three prescriptions:
Dr. Irwin will be on vacation when Ma has her next chemo, so he wants to see her again next Friday instead of waiting till he gets back. She'll have a blood test done before her next appointment.
On the way home, we got some food -- fried quail, pusit, lechon kawali and ginatan. Ma went straight to bed though.
When she got up after 6pm, she complained about not feeling well. Pa listened to her lung and decided to drain her through her catheter again. Only 250 ml came out though. She usually gets drained just once a day, and typically 500-700 ml of fluid comes out.
Soon after getting drained, Ma threw up. I'm not sure if the vomiting was due to her chemo or indigestion. She went back to bed afterwards. When I left the house after 9:30pm, she was still asleep and hadn't had dinner yet.
Ma had a follow-up appointment today with her oncologist Dr. Irwin. I told him about the side effects she was having, and we went home with three prescriptions:
- A mouthwash cocktail of Lidocaine, Nystatin, Benadryl and Maalox for mouth sores
- Lomotil for diarrhea (stronger than Imodium)
- Megace to enhance appetite
Dr. Irwin will be on vacation when Ma has her next chemo, so he wants to see her again next Friday instead of waiting till he gets back. She'll have a blood test done before her next appointment.
On the way home, we got some food -- fried quail, pusit, lechon kawali and ginatan. Ma went straight to bed though.
When she got up after 6pm, she complained about not feeling well. Pa listened to her lung and decided to drain her through her catheter again. Only 250 ml came out though. She usually gets drained just once a day, and typically 500-700 ml of fluid comes out.
Soon after getting drained, Ma threw up. I'm not sure if the vomiting was due to her chemo or indigestion. She went back to bed afterwards. When I left the house after 9:30pm, she was still asleep and hadn't had dinner yet.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
More Weight Loss
Chemo #2 Day 9
Ma's weight is down to 113. It was 120 when she left the hospital three weeks ago. Even though she's eating, it's just not enough. We keep telling her to eat more protein, but she prefers carbs. She can barely finish a small bottle of Ensure per day.
She still has pain but not due to the chemo. The catheter in her chest is what's giving her pain.
No more nausea. Diarrhea's still there. So are the mouth sores -- three of them, one under the tongue. No fever.
Ma's weight is down to 113. It was 120 when she left the hospital three weeks ago. Even though she's eating, it's just not enough. We keep telling her to eat more protein, but she prefers carbs. She can barely finish a small bottle of Ensure per day.
She still has pain but not due to the chemo. The catheter in her chest is what's giving her pain.
No more nausea. Diarrhea's still there. So are the mouth sores -- three of them, one under the tongue. No fever.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Body Pain
Chemo #2 Day 8
I didn't see Ma again today. But according to her,
I didn't see Ma again today. But according to her,
- Her whole body was very painful. Tito Lum couldn't find her Darvocet, and they had to call Pa to come home and find it. The bottle is now well-marked.
- Pa relented and got her lidocaine gel for her mouth. I don't know if this is over-the-counter. The kind I wanted him to get is prescription-strength liquid xylocaine that you can mix equal parts with Maalox or Mylanta and swish around your mouth.
- She no longer gets nausea.
- Her appetite still isn't good, but she can manage small amounts of food.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Mouth Sores
Chemo #2 Day 7
I didn't see her today, but Ma said she doesnt have any appetite. Her mouth sores are also bothering her. Pa refuses to get her liquid lidocaine to swish around her mouth and relieve the pain.
I didn't see her today, but Ma said she doesnt have any appetite. Her mouth sores are also bothering her. Pa refuses to get her liquid lidocaine to swish around her mouth and relieve the pain.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Drowsy
Chemo #2 Day 6
Drowsiness is a side effect of Compazine (for nausea) and Darvocet (for pain). Ma took both today, so she spent most of the day sleeping. Her mouth sores are bothering her, but she was able to eat.
Drowsiness is a side effect of Compazine (for nausea) and Darvocet (for pain). Ma took both today, so she spent most of the day sleeping. Her mouth sores are bothering her, but she was able to eat.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Lots of Side Effects
Chemo #2 Day 5
Ma slept most of the day today. But she experienced a lot of side effects.
The nausea and vomiting happened this evening after dinner and didn't last long. She went to bed after taking Compazine, and it looks like she's feeling better now. She had been taking Zofran to control the nausea, but she's supposed to take it for only 3 days, and it's now the 4th day.
Ma slept most of the day today. But she experienced a lot of side effects.
The nausea and vomiting happened this evening after dinner and didn't last long. She went to bed after taking Compazine, and it looks like she's feeling better now. She had been taking Zofran to control the nausea, but she's supposed to take it for only 3 days, and it's now the 4th day.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Leg Pain
Chemo #2 Day 4
The only new development today is some pain in Ma's lower thigh. She had similar pain after her first chemo. She took Darvocet this time, and it's enough to keep the pain under control.
Ma has been coughing occasionally. I'm guessing it's due to the pleural effusion.
The only new development today is some pain in Ma's lower thigh. She had similar pain after her first chemo. She took Darvocet this time, and it's enough to keep the pain under control.
Ma has been coughing occasionally. I'm guessing it's due to the pleural effusion.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Losing Appetite
Chemo #2 Day 3
Ma is starting to lose her appetite. She'll eat a few bites of food, then stop. She won't even force herself to drink a small bottle of Ensure.
One thing she has to do is drink 2-3 quarts of water a day for several days after each chemo treatment to flush the drugs out. I have to keep reminding her to drink. She drank less than 2 quarts of water today, but she did have some soup and some Ensure. I suppose those can be included in her fluid intake.
Another thing she needs to keep doing is light exercise. The extent of her exercise is to walk a loop from the kitchen to the living room to the front entry and back to the kitchen. Yes, it's a very short walk, but at least she's moving.
Ma is starting to lose her appetite. She'll eat a few bites of food, then stop. She won't even force herself to drink a small bottle of Ensure.
One thing she has to do is drink 2-3 quarts of water a day for several days after each chemo treatment to flush the drugs out. I have to keep reminding her to drink. She drank less than 2 quarts of water today, but she did have some soup and some Ensure. I suppose those can be included in her fluid intake.
Another thing she needs to keep doing is light exercise. The extent of her exercise is to walk a loop from the kitchen to the living room to the front entry and back to the kitchen. Yes, it's a very short walk, but at least she's moving.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Neulasta Shot
Chemo #2 Day 2
Ma went back to the cancer center today to get a shot of Neulasta. While she was there, Pa and a nurse removed some of her old stitches. Apparently, most of them are not absorbable. Also, some of the incisions are infected.
Ma went back to the cancer center today to get a shot of Neulasta. While she was there, Pa and a nurse removed some of her old stitches. Apparently, most of them are not absorbable. Also, some of the incisions are infected.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Chemo Resumes
Chemo #2 Day 1
Ma resumed her chemo today. She had the usual stuff. Everything was given through her IV except for the Benadryl pill:
I forgot to remind Ma to put some Lidocaine cream over her port. It hurt when the nurse inserted the needle.
The infusion center is rather small. It has two private rooms and 6 recliners. Only first-timers get a private room. Ma had to settle for a recliner. The recliners are very close together, maybe 2-2.5' apart. It's a bit cramped.
Ma has a little pus where her catheter enters her buddy. I don't know if I should be worried. Pa says it's starting to clear up.
Ma resumed her chemo today. She had the usual stuff. Everything was given through her IV except for the Benadryl pill:
- Saline IV
- Benadryl for allergy to the chemo drugs
- Pepcid for heartburn (side effect of chemo)
- Decadron for nausea and allergy
- Taxotere (chemo)
- Cytoxan (chemo)
I forgot to remind Ma to put some Lidocaine cream over her port. It hurt when the nurse inserted the needle.
The infusion center is rather small. It has two private rooms and 6 recliners. Only first-timers get a private room. Ma had to settle for a recliner. The recliners are very close together, maybe 2-2.5' apart. It's a bit cramped.
Ma has a little pus where her catheter enters her buddy. I don't know if I should be worried. Pa says it's starting to clear up.
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